Magnolia students subject to drug testing: No pass, no play for athletics, academics
The latest trend in education seems to be assuming that all children are on drugs, and we just haven't caught them yet. Because of this, the Magnolia school district north of Houston will begin requiring random drug tests of students involved in extracurricular activities. Those students who aren't involved in any activities will apparently be allowed to continue freebasing in the hallways between classes unmolested.
Magnolia High School students involved in extracurricular activities will be subject to random drug tests this school year.
Before a packed boardroom of about 75 people, school trustees on Monday unanimously approved the drug-testing policy, making Magnolia the latest in a string of Houston-area districts to do so following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in June 2002 against an Oklahoma student who challenged a policy in her district.
Under the plan, Magnolia students involved in athletics, cheerleadering, drill team, Future Farmers of America, band, choir and University Interscholastic League academic groups will be eligible for testing....
Jennifer Hawkins, whose daughter attends the high school, criticized the plan to spend about $30,000 a year on the testing.
"Please spend these funds on intervention and educational programs and give the district one year to try that," Hawkins said. "Let's inform the kids and teach them how to say `no.' "
Board members also approved penalties for testing positive. A first offense will bring two hours of mandatory substance-abuse counseling. Parents will be contacted and a second drug test will be required.
Those testing positive for a second time face a 14-day suspension from their extracurricular activity and four hours of counseling along with another drug test. An 88-day suspension from extracurricular activities accompanies a third positive test, along with six hours of cushioning and another drug test. Second- and third-time offenders can be tested anytime at the district's request.
"We're not trying to harm students," Superintendent Michael Holland said. "We just want them to be drug-free."
No, you're spending scarce tax dollars to assume a responsibility that should be the domain of a parent. I'm certainly not going to advocate that drug use by children is a good thing, but what sort of lesson are we teaching here? That we don't trust children? That they have no privacy rights? That it is acceptable to regard them as drug users until they prove otherwise? That children have no rights until they turn 18? What crap....
This really has little, if anything, to do with protecting children. This policy is about giving adults- parents and administrators- something quick and easy that they can point to and feel good about themselves (See? We're protecting our children!!). If they were truly concerned about keeping children off drugs, why are they not going to be testing students who are not involved in extracurricular activities? Are they afraid of what they might find out? Might it not stand to reason that these children would be at greater risk for drug use since they will likely have more free time on their hands?
In the end, this is really just another example of laziness and tyranny masquerading of parenting. Our children deserve better.
